Animism and Arguments from nature.

[JanisChambers]

I really wish I had more learning in these feilds, but I have always felt that religion is like a weed, you can cut off the stalk, but if you don't pull it by the root it will spring right back. Animism has been called the root of religion (of course this seems to be greatly argued) the idea that we can characterize nature by how we feel it should be is the beginning of thinking there is some Master of the universe laying down laws of how nature should behave.

I see the universe as a type of 'chaos machine' (I mean biologically) just constantly churning combinations untill something simply works. Anything from man's flight to homosexuality is looked down on because 'that isn't the way things are supposed to be'.

I only say this out of concern, I remember reading up on Objectivists and how many had the view that hetrosexuality was the only choice... it's been too long for me to remember any reference on this, it's just somthing that stuck in my mind since I read "The Fountainhead" and studied Objectisim more. It frightend me how someone who claimed they do not anthropromophize nature could see one way a member of a species could act would the the only 'correct' way.

Feel free to tear this post apart, after all I'm not writing this to sound smart, thats rather futile.

 

[Apathia]

Welcome to the JREF Forums, Janis!

There was a little shrine in my neighborhood I used to linger at when I lived in Japan. Behind it was an ancient tree. It too was considered sacred, because at its trunk was a small slab for offerings.

One evening when I felt very lonely, I stoped at that shrine and gave the old tree a hug. In the gesture I got the distinct feeling of a personal presence in that tree.

Of course that was a projection, but it gave me something to think about in regard to "nature spirits." It's often said that the origin of these animistic entities is human fear. I suspect it was more often simply seeking a heart conection with other living things the same as we seek from our on species.
Personhood is something we project on each other, so it's no surprise we'd project it in other contexts and feel as if there were reciprocity.

Some evangelicals use this as a conversion technique. They have the mark speak aloud to Jesus as if he were present, and when they do so, then ask if they were able to feel his presence. Lot's of people do. and when there is no one in their personal lives they can confide to, they find an imaginary friend.

There may be a natural inclination to Animism. A forest of California Redwoods sends me into a reverent state of heart apart from my mental undertanding that these aren't sentient beings.